Deal Details

Price Research: Our research indicates that You Need A Budget (YNAB) is $44.50 lower (68% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices starting at $65. - yuugotserved

The whole point is that it forces you to analyse your spending and be more aware of where your money is going.
YNAB is essentially a more flexible method of the envelope system with some conveniences thrown in like automatic transactions (reoccurring bills/payments/etc). Mint tells you how much you're already spending and where, YNAB tells you how much you WILL actually be able to spend and where. YNAB is preemptive instead of reactive like Mint or other solutions. Unlike Mint, it doesn't automatically sync up all your accounts and transactions. It's more like a check register where you have to enter everything manually (there are mobile apps for this). You can import transactions, if you download them in a certain format from your bank, but the idea is to get you to be aware of where you're spending your money. Sort of like counting calories. .... As far as I can tell it's just a really sharp-looking spreadsheet.

Instructions for Removing Steam once installed:

You only need Steam to buy YNAB, but not to run it after the first time. You need to run it through Steam at least once, but once you run it there you can click Help->About and get a key to use in the standalone version as well. At that point you can remove it from Steam if you don't want to run it through there.

It doesn't need Steam to be running in order to operate, but you'll need to create a shortcut to the program manually, as the Steam-generated shortcut starts Steam up first.

You can sign up for Steam, buy YNAB, install Steam, install YNAB, run YNAB and then go to the 'About YNB' section and copy the activation key to the clipboard. Save that key to a text file for safe keeping. Uninstall YNAB, uninstall Steam. Go to the YNAB homepage and download the stand alone version, activate with key. Never use Steam again.

TIP (thanks to DealMonkey):

Download and install TrueCrypt. Store your YNAB files in an encrypted container. YNAB doesn't have a password protected option so TrueCrypt will give you security of your files.

Already Own YNAB?

Email them and ask them to refund the difference. They have been doing this for people. Great customer support.

I've used YNAB for months. It's just easier than manipulating an excel spreadsheet and less intimidating for others. I'm getting it for my brother and girlfriend immediately. This price is a steal! Thank you!

I've used YNAB for months. It's just easier than manipulating an excel spreadsheet and less intimidating for others. I'm getting it for my brother and girlfriend immediately. This price is a steal! Thank you!

Any benefits of this over mint.com? It looks like it's the same thing minus the ease of mint's auto updating.

The thinking behind YNAB is to take what you have, decide what to do with it, and then follow your plan.

If you're budgeting in Mint and following your plan, then there aren't substantial differences. The problem, for me at least, was that I didn't check Mint every day. The auto-updating became a crutch and I was less responsible. Manual entry puts me closer to my accounts because it forces me to look at them every time I want to make a purchase.

Sidenote: YNAB can import historical transaction data if your bank provides that info in a supported filetype, but at that point the money has already been spent and I don't see how that would help keep a budget.

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from zechs77
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Does this factor in surprise expenses like pet emergencies, parking tickets, family emergencies, and personal injuries including time off from work and workers comp?

Any benefits of this over mint.com? It looks like it's the same thing minus the ease of mint's auto updating.

Sounds worse to me... Mint is great, love having the historical data available to see where i was good/bad and figure out why and what to change. I've definitely changed my habits in the year plus i've been using it.

Sounds worse to me... Mint is great, love having the historical data available to see where i was good/bad and figure out why and what to change. I've definitely changed my habits in the year plus i've been using it.

Absolutely. It's amazing when you see how every little transaction breaks down. Plus their customer service is outstanding. I've cut my budget by 40% or so since using it.